A solemn moment across the expanse of the green Victoria Plains, the wind softly blew on Tiki's cheeks as she took in the scenery as much as she could, knowing that it might change forever after she was done admiring it. Sitting atop a hill on a rock with her axe on top of her legs, she softly squeezed the metal handle of it, wiping away the humidity of her warm breath bashing against its cold surface, with her mind emptying all the weight it carried on it as she almost fell asleep from the peaceful moment. However, much like how she knew things would play out, the adrenaline that was soon to pump into her veins, she made no futile attempt to do so, instead staying wide awake as she gazed over the horizon. Multiple small groups of buildings were seen standing around agricultural areas at the front, not a single threat in sight if she took the scenery in with her naked eye, but ravaging with threats upon a closer look. A conflict in her mind soon followed after before turning into a physical one, as Dante slowly approached her while she came back from her drifting thoughts. Standing beside her, with little but no armor, he nudged her to check up on her, worrying ever since witnessing her being the calmest she's ever been.

"Everything alright? You were like that ever since we boarded the plane with Reina. Out of everyone being too stressed to talk, I expected you to make any conversation to break the ice."

Tiki snapped out of it, "What can I say? Too stressed to talk."

"Come on, you were trying to differentiate this from Corosta too, even though it's the same thing now, essentially. You already did this before, so what changed?"

"I didn't care for any of you back then.", she boldly spoke her heart, "I was more than willing to sacrifice you to get my way, since my only thought in mind was that you were children of the same people who destroyed my entire country...despite all that talk about 'not having to pay the sins of our fathers', I was still stuck up with that idea."

"Well, ain't that a revelation. I kind of knew, since the risks you wanted to take far outweighed what someone with your proficiency in war would take. But even then, we wanted to help, so there wasn't much backing down, since we had already entered conflict on a larger scale anyways."

"Like I said, with what we have, killing and dominating in battle isn't an issue. A tool at its core, a weapon at its surface, that's the only way Obsulyte has ever been portrayed to me. You remember the 'dragon' demi-human soldier Lina wiped out during their training, in the Common Hall area right outside the Grand Hall? One of the few times I got to see Obsulyte being used so frivolously by someone her age. Took me a while to ponder around my thoughts for when we are actually considered a threat when we carry it. What age, I mean? Still, the way I saw her after the training, I'd much rather bask in her ignorance, being influenced by the martial arts movies, her comics and anime series binging, rather than victory. It seemed more genuine, more alive of a feeling."

"You are truly starting to sound like war isn't your thing, when in the mere span of two days, you took something it took Drima years of research to come out with, and upgraded it by yourself no less, giving Drima the schematics of basically chewed up food to work with.", Dante complimented her.

"That's because I already had chewed up food myself, the base of M.O.D.s which would have definitely been extremely hard to come up with instead of expanding and upgrading them. I always like to go to the core of my problems and ideas, like with my strategies. And war...I won't lie, I enjoy battles, as simple as that. There's a certain feeling of satisfaction when I swing this big ass axe around and wipe monsters off the field, I admit it. When we first stepped onto that transport vehicle and got on the road with dozens of others though? That was nasty. Like we were off to fight with actual humans and demi-humans, normal or Obsulyte users. At their core, they are all living and breathing beings with their own families behind their backs anyway."

"I get what you mean to an extent. Same when I snuck inside a transport vehicle during the Great War, since I needed at least one deployment under my belt in order to be a candidate for the commander role of the Silver Lances. But I did nothing there, merely a spectator when they realized I was there."

"We will have to kill something more than monsters, that I guarantee you. I'm already accustomed to that. The way this whole era is boiling down...the war was never finished, Dante. In fact, I can see over the horizon, the fact that it's coming right back. This time, however, with Obsulyte users on both sides, we're looking for a war that will change the world as we know it. The only reason it hasn't happened yet is that there's some hidden factor that doesn't benefit whoever is orchestrating this entire thing, that's why there's a buildup to this, these past few months. And much like I did with you guys in Corosta, I never want to do it again. I was drowning in my rage while surviving and driving myself insane in the ruins of my people and thinking that I'd be the great hero to rebuild the kingdom that it once was. Kingdom and fantasies about my status as a hero of the war, turning what was never mine to begin with into 'my' kingdom, 'my' country, 'my' flag and 'my' people. That's when I got one thing straight thing about a war they never taught me. War is never about fighting for what was portrayed as yours when it never really wasn't. It was about you and whatever else was deemed necessary, both things that were deemed to belong to someone else but said otherwise, in order for them to get what they want. A battle such as this one we're about to fight when the others are deployed? This is a war that if I fight it, I know in my heart of hearts has meaning behind it. It will mean something for someone else other than some shadow figure up top because we no longer have one to work under."

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"If we do keep growing larger and larger as we do, eventually you to know that there might be a need for a leading figure."

"I disagree. Mere guidance is what will be necessary, just like how I fought with a detached squad, all between us, even though we still had the crown to work under. Of course, I never mean anything I say in a rebellious way, as I still hold extreme respect for Izuko, his work and the fact that he earned his leadership from our people instead of the usual monarch who demanded it. Thanks to him, I came to realize that no matter the place and time, there are always exceptions. True for everything, if you look for it. And it was because of how I saw him do things that I was capable of understanding what it meant to lead, as well as taking in prime examples to avoid when I was in the army myself and working towards being able to command everything and everyone with a higher rank. Just a way to prove myself to those who had set my expectations as high and to show that there was no need to constantly abuse them and force others to do what you and only you consider best. Granted, without a leading figure and without asserting yourself at times is no good either, but so long as you at least consider the others and not treat them like numbers the way some like Larussia have done, there's hope for something more organic to grow other than the common shit you see. Balancing that, especially when those you lead and take care of under you increase in numbers, can get difficult enough, but I always liked a challenge."

"I disagree on that myself. I was an exception, very much so. I hated every moment that I indulged in training that was working towards my dream because it took everything else I currently had away. There had to be some sacrifice, but the way I learned that meaning was absolutely awful. No matter how you look at it though, it eventually helped me in places like today. I even took off the jacket and left myself with only my vest and shirt, just so that I wouldn't worry you further, because simply put, I am prepared for this. I probably never saw war through your eyes when we were little, but from what few scenes I saw, I'd rather avoid it. Until I came to realize that I couldn't anymore. It had to happen and as such, I made an exception right then and there...too late until I got there, that is. Because now that I remember it, I made that exception the moment when I left Cecilia behind me. You said it yourself that we have meaning behind this upcoming fight, but you never specified. Was it impressions, rallying others, awareness?"

"None of that. We simply do what we agreed on between us is right. Greater good and whatnot, what does it matter if I start considering those anyway? We are sacrificing land that will burn and be infertile for a while after, even with the world's ongoing Obsulyte healing thing, to save lives. Vice versa... sometimes along this path, lives will have to be sacrificed for something greater. And that's exactly how wars start. Sacrifice for what in the eyes of the beholder is most important...like Dirunon."

"If you're referring to me smashing your arm to get answers..."

"At that moment, I was less important than the answers you were seeking."

Dante kneeled besides her, "But I swear to you, that wasn't the case. I wasn't in the right state of mind and everything then, and I'm not making excuses!"

Tiki smirked, "Oh, I know. Because it was at the moment. And that's why in moments like these, once they are over...only then we realize it was a mistake. At least yours was brief. Sometimes, as I know it, it takes a long time to build up to that moment."

Dante got back up again, "Hmm. I just wish we had more time between this back and forth battles to at least talk our way out. Something I'm sure you'd like too, even though you try and hide most of everything."

"I came to like conflict as a means of showing strength, dominating who from our side looks like the evil one and living to tell the tale of an epic battle. Properties that would keep us all safe, if there were to be an outside force that thought, even for a moment, that they would have a chance of dominating us. I studied because I wanted to see the extent of what I was capable of and expand upon it. I did both to make way for what I thought was best for all that I knew, and when that was changed, I kept going until I was left with nothing. And since that moment, because I went down that path, I was fighting a war all the time, back and forth all the time. I was, like you, always ready for something like this." She psyched herself up, "And since I stepped up again, I will do what I must base on what I've learned to show every side that watches that the hard knocks of war can be at the door shall they choose to come and assert their beliefs and dreams on our shoulders."

From her coms on her ear, both Tiki and Dante heard a small beeping sound as they pressed to open them.

"Reina here. I dropped all of you at the designated locations and I'm heading back to patrol the skies over Gardard. When you're done, call me again to take you to Galatea. Drima owes me enough as is already, so count yourselves lucky. I never doubted you because of age at all, as some of you look more than the experienced part...but nevertheless, stay safe out there. Over."

Tiki looked at Dante, standing up and cracking her knuckles, grabbing her axe and getting ready, "I said less than little about how I feel on the subject, Dante...but it still helped. You sure have a calming effect following you around...interesting. If you live to see another day along with the others, which you will thanks to me being here. I'd like to continue the talk if you ever find me both vulnerable and mentally exhausted from lack of sleep and the bullshit pile created by others. Maybe then my wording will be a little bit more...proper. Ready?"

Dante checked his gun, bullets and other items strapped in his cargo pants and both blades, "I think so Gloves fit, the vest is not moving around...this is it," he prepared himself.

Tiki nodded, pressing on her coms and turning them on, "Everyone, give me your status."

"I've got myself into it and I'm ready to go. Please, even if you do get hurt, don't push yourself and hide until I can come and heal you." Hikari pleaded.

"Ready as ever! I really want to show you guys, especially Tiki, how I can go about it!" Terna excitedly said.

"I and Yuno are in position and ready to assault the targeted area. Additionally, there appear to be two more areas fanned behind the initial target that can prove of interest. I wish us luck and to proceed with fearless and steady minds in our assault." Luna affirmed.

"Alright. Go now." Tiki made the call.

"I'll let you in on the fun to show me how you want it done before you get all pissy about it again." Dante showed her the way, "Ladies first?"

Tiki chuckled, "I like it when you do what I say. Now, follow me, and I'll show you how we can take each and every bastard down."